There's no hard and fast rule about when to use a vacation rental or when to stay at a hotel—it all depends on how many travelers are in your party, your destination, and your trip length. TripAdvisor's calculator takes these into consideration to compare the costs for you.

The travel planning and reviews site also takes into consideration whether or not you'll be dining out a lot (you can save money with a vacation rental by cooking some meals on the property).

Comparing the costs side by side makes the decision a lot easier. Whether you find that a vacation rental or a hotel makes more sense for your next trip, TripAdvisor can help you find where to stay.